CAF Champions League
TYAVKASE: NO MARGIN FOR ERRORS AGAINST WYDAD IN CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TIE
On Sunday, no quarter would be asked and none would be given when Lobi Stars entertain Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco on Match Day 3 at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium.
The match,
originally slated for Saturday is pushed to Sunday as the Enugu stadium venue will
be used for political campaign this Saturday.
According to Cafonline, this much is the prediction of experienced Lobi Stars’
midfielder David Tyavkase, a veteran of many continental cup battles dating
back to his days with Enyimba where he successively won the CAF Champions
League in 2003 and 2004 as well as the Africa Super Cup in 2004 and 2005.
“During my stint with Enyimba, I never played against Wydad but I played
against Raja Club Athletic of Morocco; and generally, we know what most teams
from North Africa can do,” the 34-year-old Tyavkase said in an interview with
CAFOnline.com.
“It is true that Wydad has so far shown good form in this competition but it’s
up to us to stop them on Saturday in Enugu.”
Described as a ‘game changer’ by coach Solomon Ogbeide partly for Tyavkase’s
ability to come off the bench to score vital goals for his side; aside his near
to two decades experience playing at international levels for both club and
country.
Tyavkase said Lobi Stars must be up and running in this weekend’s tie against
their battle-hardened North African visitors with whom they contest for quarter
final tickets in a seemingly tough Group A complete with ASEC Mimosas and
Mamelodi Sundowns.
Incidentally, all the four teams have so far have identical results after they
have each recorded just a win and and lost in previous two matches.
“We have to be very fit and alert throughout the match against Wydad,”
noted Tyavkase, a former Nigerian international who won four (4) domestic
league titles with Enyimba.
“From my experience, the first 45 minutes and 10 minutes into the second half
are the most dangerous periods playing against any team from North Africa; and
we must be very alert because Wydad will come hard on us.
“We need the three points from this encounter because any of the four
teams in the group can go through; I believe we have the team that can play
against the best on the continent.”
Tyavkase who had a brief stint with US Bitam of Gabon en route to Lobi Stars
said the playing body will gird their loins against their Moroccan counterparts
to keep their campaign alive.
“We want to win on Friday in order to be in good position before we travel for
the second leg in Morocco,” noted the midfielder.
Meanwhile, in the other Group A tie billed for Friday, Mamelodi Sundowns hosts
ost ASEC Mimosas at the Loftus Stadium in Pretoria as the competition reaches
the half way mark.